Self-aligning picture frame

ABSTRACT

A picture frame construction includes an integrally attached backing to the picture frame. The inner peripheral edge of the frame is slotted with one side of the slot being coincident with the forward surface of the backing. Spring biased picture positioning members resiliently engage preselected edges of a picture being inserted through the face of the frame to automatically align the picture for proper display purposes within the peripheral slot.

[54] SELF-ALIGNING PHITURE FRAME [76] Inventor: William A. Hooper, Jr.,6901 Sycamore, Kansas City, Mo. 64133 [22] Filed: Oct. 15, 1970 [21]Appl. No.: 80,971

[52] U.S.Cl

[51] Int. Cl [58] Field of Search ..40/10, 152, 152.1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 396,536 1/1889 Brown..40/104.19 1,971,923 8/1934 Stern........

2,242,148 5/1941 Sanders.... 2,608,777 9/1952 Schuler ..40/16.4

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 722,249 12/1931 France ..40/152 453,48412/1927 Germany ..40/152 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell AssistantExaminerWenceslao J. Contreras Attorney-Scofield, Kokjer, Scofield &Lowe [57] ABSTRACT A picture frame construction includes an integrallyattached backing to the picture frame. The inner peripheral edge of theframe is slotted with one side of the slot being coincident with theforward surface of the backing. Spring biased picture positioningmembers resiliently engage preselected edges of a picture being insertedthrough the face of the frame to automatically align the picture forproper display purposes within the peripheral slot.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures SELF-Arrows PIC 2 BACKGROUND AND BRIEFDESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION My invention relates to a picture framewhich is suitable for displaying photographs, art works or plaques andawards. I have found that the conventional picture frame, having theremovable back for the purpose of loading the display object into theframe, is generally unsatisfactory in certain instances. For example,when it is desired that a marquee-type display or permanently affixedpicture frame or framing structure has its associated display objectchanged, the desirability of front loading becomes apparent.Furthermore, the relative strength of the frame (with an integrallyconstructed backing) is substantially enhanced.

I have invented a picture frame with an integrally formed backing. Theinner peripheral edge of the picture frame is slotted on all four sides(of a rectangular frame) with the rearward face of the slot beingcoincident with the forward face of the backing. A resilient or springbiased member is located and substantially centered in the upperhorizontal peripheral slot and in the right-hand (when viewed from thefront) vertical peripheral slot. The picture or plaque will be insertedin the frame from the front of same by locating the normally upperhorizontal edge of the picture in a cross corner position so that theupper corners of the picture enter into the upper and righthandperipheral slot. The picture may then be moved interiorly of the twoabove-mentioned portions of the peripheral slot so that the right-handedge and substantially all of the upper edge of the picture ispositioned within the correspond ing portions of the peripheral slot.This position permits the lower edge portion and left-hand edge portionof the picture to be then slipped interiorly of the outer plane of thepicture frame so that it rests on the forward surface of the backing. Inthis position, the resilient spring biased picture positioning membersare elongated under tension so that when the picture is manuallyreleased, the resilient picture positioning members move inwardly withrespect to their elongated position forcing the lower edge portion andleft edge portion of the picture in-to corresponding peripheral slottedportion.

It is further contemplated that a plexiglas or other transparent plasticpicture covering will be inserted in actually the same manner as thepicture either separately or simultaneously so that the picture or awardplaque is covered and protected from the elements in the particularenvironment where the frame will be located. Furthermore, the frame (andpicture covering) may take on any convenient shape such as rectangular,square, oval or round.

An object of my invention is to provide a uniquely constructed frontloading self-aligned picture frame.

Another object of my invention is to provide a picture frame which isuniquely constructed to accommodate different dimensioned picturesand/or display objects yet which automatically align same for properfrontal display.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a uniquelyconstructed picture frame which has its overall strength substantiallyenhanced by permanently affixing the backing with the frame.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved picture framethat may be permanently affixed to a marquee or store front. It is afeature of my invention that the picture frame permits the displayeditem to be loaded from the front and protected from the elements so thatthe frame will not have to be removed when the picture or display objectis changed.

A further object of my invention is to provide a picture frame that maybe manufactured quickly and simply and which has eliminated the need fornails or wedges in the backing thereof. It is a feature of this objectthat the entire frame may be fixedly and rigidly interconnected by aglueing process as it is unnecessary to remove certain portions thereoffor loading the display object therein.

Other and further objects of the invention, together with the featuresof novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear in the course of thefollowing description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the accompanying drawing, whichforms a part of the specification and is to be read in conjunctiontherewith, and in which like reference numerals are employed to indicatelike parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my front loading picture frame with thepicture and/or display object being located in the cross corners"position associated with the initial loading steps;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the picture frame with the displayobject located therein;

FIG. 3 is a back elevational view of the front loading picture frameshowing the two springs which comprise the resilient picture positioningmembers;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3in the direction of the arrows and showing the tension spring in itsextended position due to the movement of the object to be displayedwithin the frame;

, FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the tension springpositioning the object to be displayed within the frame with the displayobject being free to move within the peripheral slot of the frame; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the frame constructionand display object with portions thereof shown in section.

Turning now more particularly to the drawing, reference numeral 10 isused to generally indicate the subject picture frame. As shown in thevarious views, I utilize a generally rectangular shaped frame, however,it should be pointed out that square, oval or round frames could beemployed using the unique features of my invention.

As clearly shown in FIGS. 1-3, the frame includes four integrallyconnected frame members 1011, ltlb, 10c and Mid there being twohorizontal sides 10a & 10c and two vertical sides 10b & 10d which areglued together and integrally formed with a back 11. This back 11 isrigidly interconnected with the four above-mentioned members and may beconstructed of the same material as the frame members and glued thereto.Accordingly, the over-all strength of the picture frame is substantiallyenhanced over the heretofore use of wedges, staples or tacks forremovably attaching a back to the frame. Each of the frame members havea forward overlapping lip portion generally indicated by the numeral 10cwhich partially defines an inner peripheral slot between the lowersurface of same and the upper surface of the frame back. As a result,theupper surface of frame back 1 l is coincident with one side of theabove-described peripheral slot which circumscribes the inner edgesurfaces of the frame. Each frame member further defines the depth ofits associated slot by the substantially 90 step from the lip portionltle. This depth dimension is sufficiently large to permit thepositioning of the display object within the slot for either theinsertion of the display object within the frame or the subsequentremoval thereof.

Finally, a second 90 step is spaced from the first mentioned step (seeFIG. 6) so as to permit back 11 to be glued thereto with its forwardsurface forming the rear surface of the slot.

The frame back ll has two grooves 11a and 11b which are of sufficientdepth to accommodate springs 13a and 131; respectively therein (seeFIGS. 3-5). The inner end of each spring is fixedly attached to back 11with'their respective groove by pins 13c. The outer end of each spring13a. and 13b is upturned as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and occupies aportion of the corresponding slot in frame members a and 10brespectively. Accordingly, a display object may contact the springportions 13a and 13b and cause the corresponding springs to elongateunder tension with the limits of the above-described peripheral slot.

With the above-mentioned frame construction, it is contemplated that thedisplay object 12 may include a flexible plaque, plastic of plexiglaspicture covering and picture combination. in this regard, display object12 will be initially inserted by way of the front portion of the pictureframe by locating same initially in the cross corner position as shownin FIG. 1. in this position, the upper left-hand comer and the upperrighthand corner of the display object will be located in the upperhorizontal slot (in frame member 10a) and the right'vertical slot (inframe member 10b) of the associated picture frame. It is thencontemplated that the flexible display object will be rotated in acounterclockwise direction so that the right edge of same comes inregistration with the slot in the right-hand vertical frame member 10b.At the same time, the upper horizontalportion of display object 12 ismoved upwardly with the slot in upper horizontal frame member 10a.Accordingly, both of the tension spring members 13a and 13b are forcedto elongate since the upper horizontal edge and the right-hand verticaledge of the display object contact the upturned vertical end portions13a and 13b of the spring members 13a and 13b respectively. As a result,the display object will now be located with the upper vertical portionand the right side portion of same substantially within the slot in theupper horizontal frame member 100 and the right vertical member 10b.This allows the left vertical edge of the flexible lower horizontal edgeof the display object to easily slide within the corresponding frameportions on the forward surface of the back 11. When the display objectis released, the tension springs 13a and 13b react to move samedownwardly and to the left so that corresponding edge portions enter thegroove in the left-hand vertical frame member 10d and the lowerhorizontal frame member 100 thereby locating display object 12 forproper viewing.

When it is desirable to remove the display object (which, of course,could include either the combination picture covering and picture or anaward plaque), the above-mentioned insertion steps are reversed.Accordingly, the thumb or forefinger may be used to slidably move thedisplay object 12 upwardly and to the right so that the lower horizontaledge and the left vertical edge of the display object is moved outof thecorresponding frame member slots as the opposite edges thereof are movedinwardly against the tension of springs 113a and 13b. This enables thelower left-hand comer of the display object to be grasped by a finger orthumb and flexed upwardly. At the same time, the display object may berotated in a clockwise direction until it approximately assumes thecross corner position once again therebyfreeing the entire lower edgeand the lower half of the two vertical edges. In this position, theentire display object may be quickly and easily removed from the frameconstruction and a new one inserted therein.

The above-mentioned procedure permits the unitary frame construction tobe fixedly mounted to walls or to the exterior of offices, advertisingmarquees, and the like, yet permitting the display object to be easilychanged from the front of the frame and at the same time to be correctlypositioned for display purposes by the spring action and to bemaintained in this position.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one welladapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forthtogether with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherentto the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention withoutdeparting from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matterherein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A combination picture frame and display object, said combinationcomprising,

at least one frame member rigidly interconnected thereby forming a framehaving a preselected shape and circumscribing a substantially flatdisplay area,

a back for said frame, said back being integrally attached to said framemember,

said back and said frame cooperating to form a contiguous slot withinsaid inner peripheral portion of said circumscribing frame, said backhaving an elongated recess defined therein, a spring member locatedwithin said elongated recess, said spring member having one end portiongauging said flexible display object and urging said object in apreselected direction.

2. The combination as in claim 1 wherein said back includes at least twoelongated recesses, said recesses being oriented substantially withrespect to each other, a spring member located in each of said recesses,each of said spring members having one end portion engaged in saidflexible display object and operable to urge said object in saidpreselected direction.

1. A combination picture frame and display object, said combinationcomprising, at least one frame member rigidly interconnected therebyforming a frame having a preselected shape and circumscribing asubstantially flat display area, a back for said frame, said back beingintegrally attached to said frame member, said back and said framecooperating to form a contiguous slot within said inner peripheralportion of said circumscribing frame, said back having an elongatedrecess defined therein, a spring member located within said elongatedrecess, said spring member having one end portion gauging said flexibledisplay object and urging said object in a preselected direction.
 2. Thecombination as in claim 1 wherein said back includes at least twoelongated recesses, said recesses being oriented substantially 90* withrespect to each other, a spring member located in each of said recesses,each of said spring members having one end portion engaged in saidflexible display object and operable to urge said object in saidpreselected direction.